Currently there are two projects that aspire to be the eurocaza of the 21st century: the Franco-German program and the British Tempest, to which the Netherlands and Italy have joined. From the Ministry of Defense is convinced that both programs will eventually merge, given the huge investment that requires its development.

Despite this, and with the interest to participate in the project from its initial phase, Spain has decided to join the project of Paris and Berlin.

"A nine-year funded programme of record exists for the FCAS TI, of which the Team Tempest project is a subset. This programme consists of three main elements; PYRAMID (an Open Mission Systems Initiative); National Projects; and International Projects. Team Tempest is a part of the National Projects element and is jointly funded by the MOD and industry. All other FCAS TI activities are currently solely funded by the MOD. The MOD is contributing c.£2 billion to the FCAS TI programme."

Note that it is not the case that £2 billion is being paid by MoD for a plane called Tempest.

So per that time-line the “Tempest” (or at least what ever aircraft emerges from this investment and development effort) is intend to go into service approx 2040.While it would be foolish too read to much into a press-release it does put some enthusiasts hopes/ expectations of a much shorter development schedule in context and does show we are in very early lets-see-what-happens stages rather than a hell-for-leather race to develop and fly a particular (UK only) airframe and systems.

It was based on that concept (of many competing concepts, several of which are still under active consideration) for the convenience of the model makers, and perhaps because that concept seemed the most promising at the time they had to design the mock up. By the time it was revealed, other concepts may have been judged more promising.

It was sized (including height off the ground) for transport and assembly requirements, and to fit within the constrained dimensions of marquees and exhibition spaces.

The eventual manned platform within FCAS is most unlikely to look anything like the Tempest model. And even if that concept does end up forming the basis of the eventual FCA it will not be exactly that size, or shape.

http://www.anigrand.com/AA2138_Tempest.htm ... hmm, the parts as shown look to be oddly proportioned, inaccurate and not representative of the mockup aircraft as built, truly a missed opportunity, it seems a bit on the expensive side too

I hope to have a more accurate kit avaliable through SpotOn resins very soon based upon the actual aircraft mockups (I am at the stage of cleaning up masters from accurate 3D printed forms)